Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-05-25
THE INSANE ASYLUM.
The Proposed New Buiidins---A Trip
Through the Wards.
C.,.as,I JIsLs,r,,rn N yk< pesyidrr

Through the Wards.
Special Tie0rdm 10 the Regiser.
wEsroN, W. Va, May 24.-The appint
ment of Mr.. A. F. Whelan q q member o
the Board of Directors of the Hospital fo
the Insane, has, l believe, given genera
satisfaction to our people here, as he is :
gentleman of fine business qualifications
and having had some experience in con
tracing, building, &c, ''be is the right
man in the right place" What we want
now is the Governor TO appoint another
member to co2plste the local Board
so that they can get uI
plans, specifications, &c, for the
new building for which So, OO0 was appro
priated last winter. As there is consider
able work to be done before building is be-
gan it is highly important that they get to
work at once in order that II may be got
ten under way before cold weather sets in
As one passes through the long corridors
of this magnificent building he sees pa
tients of all sizes and shapes and in various
moods, some loud and beisterous, Others
silent and pensive, while some are almost
necessarily pacing to and fro like mad
tiger in his den. To q stranger it would
seem dangerous to he among them, and Wis
itors are always on the alert lest one should
take him unaware, but seldom is visitor
mole1ted. Just rs soon as you are shown
in the halls you are surrounded on all sides
by the livelier ones, who put questions tc
you by the dozen, following you up until
they are shut cut from view by your en-
trance into the next hall. A large volume
could be written about the peculiarities o
many of them, but will only mention q
few in order not TO trespass upon valuable
space. The particular mention of Guen
ther Schuelle, who was brought hert
from the Peniteptiary few months
ago, will no doubt be in
teresting To many of your
reader. He has n mania for committing
suicide and is watched very carefully dur
ing the day, and at night is put in a crit
to keep him from carrying ont his threat
Not long ago an old man had some cake
and other delicacies sent him by some
friends and the attendant let him use y
case knife TO cut the cake. In short
while he was found almost in dying con
dition, having cut one of the arteries in his
arm, and was slowly but surely bleeding
to death. Fortunately he was discovered
in time TO save his life, and now he will
show you an immense scar OH his arm and
laugh about it.
The most noted Of the large number OF
patients is Duke" the artist. lie nC
doubt will be remembered by almost every
visitor, ~ he is constantly at work draw
ing pictures of the building, and seldom
tires of his work. The drawings are from
memory and very exact, even To the land
scapc surrounding. His only instrument
is common stick sharpened at one end
and a set of water color paints. Several oI
these pictures are turned out every month
which are usually painted at the request o
some one of the attendants or officers for Z
friend, Duke" receiving a few cents foI
the same, which is usually spent for tobac
90. When not drawing, he il busy making
letters or hciroglyphics, which remind one
of lot OF Japanese writing.